How to protect your child from getting sexually abused by the person?
Sexually abused children live very different life from other kids. They don’t tell anyone about the incident and keep it a secret forever. The shameful fact about maltreatment is that the abusers are more likely to be family members, neighbors, or a known person. This affects the kid’s mental health most drastically.
Some studies tell 8 out of 10 physically abused children know the abuser. This is not just limited to girl children; boys too get assaulted.
There are certain signs that a kid show when he/she is sexually abused –
- Becoming suddenly withdrawn
If the child shows no interest in the activities he/she was doing earlier; there is trouble. It would be better if you can let them feel safe to have a word with you. - Excessive clinginess
If he/she loves to roam around or play outside; but now the child fights to remain inside his/her room. If your child doesn’t want to leave the house or you like he/she used to, then there is something wrong happened to him/her. Again, being a parent, you must politely talk about the changed behavior of your kid. - Strange fear of a person or a place
Earlier your child was playing or talking to your neighbor but now he/she is making excuses or giving intense fearful expressions whenever you take the name of a person or place, there is a serious issue that you need to address. Stay calm and talk to your child about it. - Emotional outbursts
Emotions when coming in waves are the most dangerous to survive. A child will get over when he or she is having an emotional outburst.Your kid has not developed it on the same day, it was a multiple-day collection of thoughts, guilt, and anger. So, you have to wait by just holding your kid or hugging him/her tight. This will help build trust between you both. - Weird eating habits or patterns
Too much eating or staying hungry for longer than usual or eating faster are some signals that reveal something is bothering your child. It is better to talk to your kid in person and ask about it. - Secretive behavior
If your child has become secretive and hardly shares anything with you, then the matter is serious. It is better to have a straight talk with your child with patience because your anger might ruin the chance that he/she can trust you. - Physical signs
Even if your child tells you that there is pain, bleeding, or discharge in genitals, mouth, or anus, calm him/her down and take him/her along for a medical examination.
What to do to prevent physical abuse among kids?
Early sex education helps prevent your child from any kind of molestation. When your child becomes 3 years old, start talking about private parts.
You can do this by bathing them and naming their private parts as “bottom”. Tell them not to allow anyone to touch their bottom except their parents or grandparent if your child feels comfortable. Parents or grandparents are the safest people and children can trust them easily.
Always believe your child!
Show your child how much you trust him/her because this is the only thing that will make them more confident about the bond. The more they trust this bond, the more they will share.
When you get to know about the abuser, stay firm and face the issue because, in the end, your child’s protection matters the most. Keep your child safe and out of reach of that person.
Sexually abused children can and do recover. They just need a good listener whom they can trust. You have to remain calm because your anxious behavior may make your child nervous, which can affect him/her in a traumatic way.
Yogymummy team provides special counseling sessions for kids who are dealing with any kind of trauma, depression, anxiety, or abuse. They will also get meditation and yoga sessions that will help them restore their self-esteem and confidence. We work on kids’ mental health for their well-being. Parents dealing with a traumatic child can connect with us.
If you want to know how to heal your traumatic child, read our professional tips.